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No more signatures in support of parties taking part in election

Only public associations which are no political parties will have to collect signatures
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, April 27 (Itar-Tass) — Outgoing President Medvedev has signed a bill into law that relieves parties, taking part in elections of all levels, except a presidential election, of a procedure of collecting voters' signatures in their support.

"It relieves parties, taking part in elections of all levels, except a presidential election, of a procedure of collecting voters' signatures in their support, but even in case of a presidential election the number of the required signatures has been radically cut, which will make political life much more interesting," Medvedev said at a meeting with Duma blocs on Wednesday.

Only public associations which are no political parties, but have a status of an election association electing local governments, will have to collect signatures in support of their candidates, the bill said.

Parties not represented in the State Duma or in one-third of parliaments on the overall territory of the Russian Federation are to submit signatures in support of their presidential candidate, but the minimal number of the required signatures has been slashed from two million to 100,000.

Independent candidates running for Russian presidency should submit no fewer than 300,000 signatures in their support- down the previous required minimal number of two million.